Sutera plant named &#39;dancop24&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  plant named ‘DANCOP24’ particularly characterized 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 3.0 cm in diameter and lavender in color with a yellow-orange colored throat; trailing, compact growth habit; early flowering response; and suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

Sutera cordata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANCOP24’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Suteraplant, botanically known as Sutera cordata), hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘DANCOP24’.

Sutera, of the Scrophulariaceae family, consists of annuals, which aregrown in most climate zones in the U.S., and only in zones 9 and 10 ifit is a perennial plant.

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Suteravariety with large, lavender flowers and a trailing, compact growthhabit.

The new Sutera cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program by the inventor in 2004, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. Open pollination of the seed parent, an unpatented Suteracultivar designated ‘CV-04-66’, took place in a controlled breedingprogram in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The new Sutera cultivar‘DANCOP24’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, GabrielDanziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel

Asexual reproduction of the new Sutera cultivar by vegetative tipcuttings was first performed in December of 2004 in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘DANCOP24’, which in combinationdistinguish this Sutera as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 3.0 cm in diameter and        lavender in color with a yellow-orange colored throat;    -   2. Trailing, compact growth habit;    -   3. Early flowering response; and    -   4. Suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination        planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

Plants of the new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP24’ differ from plants of theparental cultivar, ‘CV-04-66’ (unpatented), in the characteristicsdescribed in Table 1. TABLE 1 Parental Cultivar New Cultivar ‘CV-04-66’Characteristic ‘DANCOP24’ (unpatented) Flower size Extra large, about 3cm Large, about 2.1 cm Growth habit Trailing Semi upright Leaf size(width) Large, about 2 cm Medium, about 1.3 cm

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP24’ is theSutera cultivar ‘DANGUL14’ (disclosed in pending U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 11/392,501), in the characteristics described inTable 2: TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar ‘DANGUL14’ (disclosed in U.S. PlantNew Cultivar Patent Application No. Characteristic ‘DANCOP24’11/392,501) Flower size Extra large, about 3 cm Extra large, about 2.7cm Growth intensity Vigorous Compact Flower color Lavender White PlantSpread About 60 cm About 50 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP24’ showing the colors as true as isreasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of‘DANCOP24’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘DANCOP24’ in a hanging planter at 3 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical flowers and buds of ‘DANCOP24’at 3 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP24’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Sutera cultivar‘DANCOP24’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel,under conditions which closely approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately 12:00 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The ageof the plant described is 3 months.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Sutera cordata.        -   Commercial.—Bacopa c.v. Copia Gulliver Lilac.-   Parentage: Sutera cultivar designated ‘CV-04-66’ (unpatented)-   Optimal growth conditions:    -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight or slight shade.        -   Temperature.—Day: 20° C. to 24° C. Night: 16° C. to 20° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to a low temperature of            about 10° C. and tolerant to a high temperature of about 30°            C.        -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with level of 100 ppm            Nitrogen.        -   Growth regulators.—Unnecessary.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tip cuttings of side shoots.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Easy to root.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7 to 10 days at 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 14 days at 18° C.-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 10 cm. Spread:            About 60 cm.        -   Shape.—Trailing, vigorous growth habit.        -   Winter hardiness.—Hardy in moderate climate.        -   Vigor.—Strong.        -   Crop time.—About 8 to 10 weeks for a flowering pot.        -   Fragrance.—None.

Branching habit.—Vigorously branched. Lateral branches: TABLE 3 Branchcharacteristic Primary Secondary Length About 50 cm. About 35 cm.Diameter About 2 mm. About 1 mm. Internode About 2.5 cm. About 2 cm.Length Texture Slightly rough Slightly rough Pubescence Present PresentColor Yellow-Green, RHS 146A Yellow-Green, RHS 146B

-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement and attachment.—Opposite, petiolate.        -   Leaf length.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Cordate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Base shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Dentate.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Slightly velvety.        -   Pubescence (both surfaces).—Slightly present.        -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Yellow-Green, RHS 147A.            Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137A.        -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137B            Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137C.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Palmate. Color: Upper surface: Green, RHS            137B. Lower surface: Green, RHS 137C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color:            Green, RHS 137A.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.-   Flower description:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year round in moderate            climate. Flowering occurs between January and December            outdoors in Israel.        -   Flowering response time.—About 4 weeks from planting.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: Flowering of a single            flower lasts for 7 days.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 200.        -   Flower bud (about 2 days prior to opening).—Shape:            Spatulate. Length: About 12 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Texture: Velvety. Color: Violet-Blue, RHS 91C.        -   Flower type.—Solitary, auxiliary.        -   Flower form.—Salverform.        -   Flower symmetry.—Radial symmetric.        -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward and outward.        -   Corolla size.—Diameter (spread): About 3 cm. Diameter at            lobes: About 30 mm. Overall flower height: About 14 mm.            Length of corolla tube: About 12 mm. Diameter of corolla            tube: About 2 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Length: About 10 mm. Width: About            12 mm. Overall shape: Rounded and gameopetalous. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture (upper & lower            surfaces): Slightly velvety. Color: Upper surface, when            opening: Lavender, RHS 91B of violet-purple group. Upper            surface, opened flower: Lavender, RHS 91B of violet-purple            group. Lower surface, when opening: Lavender, RHS 91D of            violet-purple group. Lower surface, opened flower: Lavender,            RHS 91D of violet-purple group. Corolla throat color:            Yellow-orange, RHS 17A.        -   Calyx.—Sepals: Quantity: 5. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About            1 mm. Overall shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Velvety. Lower            surface: Velvety. Upper surface color: Green, RHS 137C Lower            surface color: Green, RHS 137C Anthocyan pigmentation of            calyx limb: Absent. Pedicel: Aspect: Slanted upward. Length:            About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 45°. Texture:            Velvety. Color: Green, RHS 137C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 4. Arrangement: Didynamous.            Type: Basifixed. Dehiscence of stamens: Extrorse. Color:            Yellow-Orange, RHS 21B Anthers: Shape Cylinder. Length:            About 1 mm. Color: Yellow-Orange, RHS 21B Filaments: Length:            About 10 mm. Color: Green-Yellow, RHS 1D Pollen: Amount:            Moderate. Color: Yellow-Orange, RHS 21B Pollination            requirements: Young flowers, vital pollen, and receptive,            open stigma.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistils: Quantity: 1. Length: About 11 mm.            Stigma: Shape: Undulate. Width: About 0.5 mm. Color:            Yellow-Green, RHS N144B Style: Shape: Terete. Length: About            10 mm. Ovary: Shape: Ellipsoid. Position: Superior. Length:            About 2 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Color: Green, RHS 143A.-   Seeds:    -   -   Quantity per fruit.—About 20.        -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Length.—About 0.5 mm.        -   Width.—About 0.5 mm.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS 167D.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—Capsule.        -   Shape.—Ellipsoid.        -   Length.—About 4 mm.        -   Width.—About 2 mm.        -   Texture.—Rugose.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS 164A.-   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information is currently available.

1. A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP24’, substantially asillustrated and described herein.